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The State has dropped corruption charges against former Defence Permanent Secretary, Stardy Mwale, and businessman, Clever Mpoha, after entering a nolle prosequi, effectively halting the case before trial.
The discontinued matter is the second major corruption case involving Mwale that has been withdrawn within days.
Just last week, prosecutors also entered a nolle prosequi in a separate case linked to alleged irregularities in the procurement of the Gulfstream G650-ER presidential jet.
Despite that decision, Mwale and five others were immediately re-arrested and charged with the same offence.
In the latest case, Mwale and Mpoha faced two counts of corrupt practices related to a contract for the supply of uniforms to the Zambia National Service (ZNS).
Prosecutors alleged that between March 2017 and October 2018, Mwale, while serving as Defence PS, corruptly received US$200,000 from Eagle Trading International Limited.
The payment was allegedly a bribe to facilitate the release of management fees and insurance premiums to Africa Security Academy, a company contracted to supply ZNS uniforms.
Mpoha was accused of arranging the US$200,000 payment through Eagle Trading as an inducement for Mwale to expedite Ministry of Defence payments.
The transaction, according to investigators, pointed to collusion between a senior government official and private sector players in a high-value procurement deal.
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